The Morris County Prosecutor's Office is seeking to forfeit Darren Kent's house in Rockaway Township because he allegedly used it for a marijuana-growing and distribution operation.Brendan Kuty/ Nj.com

MORRISTOWN — The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office has filed a civil action to forfeit the house, money, trucks, weapons and marijuana-growing equipment allegedly owned by a Rockaway Township man arrested last week for allegedly operating a drug-production facility in his home.

A judge had set bail for Darren Kent at $275,000, the approximate value of the house that he now might lose. Kent, 52, had offered to post it as collateral. He has not posted bail and remained held at the Morris County jail today, officials said.

Kent was arrested May 14 after he called 911 to report his wife, Donna, had died in their home. There were no signs of foul play, officials have said.

The 30 plants and hydroponic growing equipment discovered in two rooms of Kent’s basement on Sanders Road could yield $100,000 in sales, said Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Bradford Seabury. Kent faces both drug and weapons charges in criminal court.

The civil action was filed in Superior Court in Morristown by Assistant Prosecutor Robert Weber, who said the items were seized and should be forfeited to the prosecutor’s office because they were “used to further illegal drug activity.”

Weber is seeking a court order to forfeit the house; two Dodge Ram trucks; five bank and investment accounts; two computers; one handgun; two shotguns; seven boxes of ammunition; a safe; $11,210 in cash and miscellaneous growing, lighting and ventilation equipment.

Documentation seized at the home showed that Kent’s “marijuana cultivation efforts” had been going on for more than 10 years, Weber said.

Kent’s attorney, Nicholas Palma, said he will defend his client against the forfeiture and is “cautiously optimistic” that he will prevail. Palma said forfeiting a house “isn’t something you see every day” but he had expected it in this case.

No court date has been set in the civil case. Kent is making arrangements to bury his wife and it will happen “hopefully by the end of next week,” Palma said.